Skip to content Great managers do more than drive results. They design meaning into work.
Meaning is created when people see how their work contributes to something larger, and managers either connect those dots or leave them disconnected.
A 2021 study in the Journal of Vocational Behavior titled “Meaningful Work and Employee Engagement: A Meta -Analysis” (Allan, Batz -Barbarich, Sterling, & Tay) found that meaningful work is one of the strongest predictors of engagement and well -being, surpassing even pay and promotions. Purpose is not a corporate statement; it is a lived experience shaped in every conversation, assignment, and acknowledgment.
Everyday Moves
Link tasks back to impact. Say, “Here’s how this helps our clients, team, or community.”
Share real stories that remind people why their work matters.
Connect performance goals to personal growth. Show how progress builds capability and confidence, not just output.
Designing meaning is not a grand gesture. It is a consistent act of translation that turns effort into purpose and routine into pride. Managers who design meaning help people see themselves in the bigger picture and feel their contribution every day.
How can you design meaning into the everyday moments your people experience?
